Brooklyn, NY-Upstart toy company, Art Asylum, in conjunction with the William Morris Agency and SLAM Management announced a deal to create a new line of action figures based on skateboarding legend, TONY HAWK. The line will include action figures of all sizes, including a line from their hot new brand of “MiniMates” featuring Hawk in his early years.

Art Asylum, widely respected for its cutting edge work in the action figure arena and license holders for major brands such as Star Trek, Bruce Lee, Eminem and Kiss, adds another legendary name to their roster in Tony Hawk. “We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” notes Asylum Inmate, and VP, Adam Unger. “Tony represents everything we feel works for strong branding in the toy business. He is a tremendous athlete and role model for so many kids and has helped shape skateboarding into the major worldwide sport that it is today. We were honored when we got word that Tony wanted to work with us.”

“Tony has taken a hands-on approach with the line and really helped shape some of the overall design and features for the toys,” Unger notes. “His sponsors all came on board also to lend the true authenticity to his clothing and equipment and we are thankful to have been able to work with them all.”

“At first I was skeptical at the idea of having an action figure until I saw Art Asylum’s incredible work,” said Tony. “Their attention to detail and quality is unsurpassed.”

Art Asylum will be launching (3) lines of Tony Hawk Toys starting in the Spring and will be featured on the cover of ToyFare magazine hitting news stands January 21st.. The toys were also shown during a feature on Tony on 60 Minutes II this past week. CBS news story below: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/10/60II/main532506.shtml

About Art Asylum

New York, Brooklyn based Art Asylum was founded by Digger in 1996 as a creative studio providing premier work services to the toy industry. This state of the art studio and office complex, with a staff of 20 joined forces with Jay Foreman and Adam Unger in 2000 and transformed itself into a fully functioning new force in the action figure business debuting the newly formed company in 2001. The company has recently acquired such lines as Star Trek, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Eminem, Bruce Lee, KISS and created their own new brands of toys: N' The Box, Asylum Ultimate, and MiniMates. http://www.artasylum.com

ABOUT TONY HAWK

Fans are not sure if he is more gymnast, acrobat or magician. The only thing certain about Tony Hawk is that he is skateboarding’s primary icon. His physical skill and dazzling artistry have left fans in slack-jawed awe ever since he turned pro at age 14. Tony’s talents have brought a level of attention to and respect for skateboarding which, in turn, has helped to legitimize all action sports.

By placing 1st or 2nd at nearly every event in his career, and by inventing more than 80 tricks, Tony has earned fiercely loyal fans here as well as Europe, Australia, Japan and the world over. At 34, Tony is best known for his “900” (a mid-air 360 degree somersault done 2 1/2 times) which existed only in theory until Tony landed it live at the Summer ‘99 X-Games and then again at MTV’s Sports & Music Awards. In 2000, Tony wrote a best-selling book, HAWK: Occupation Skateboarder and was awarded the ESPY for Best Alternative Athlete. His idea for Tony Hawk’s Gigantic Skatepark Tour took skaters and BMX bikers to skateparks across the US. These televised events quickly became the highest rated show on ESPN2.

In 2001 Tony received the 1st ever ESPN Action Sports Achievement Award for his unparalleled achievements in skateboarding. His best selling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game won three Blockbuster Awards for Favorite PlayStation, Dreamcast and GameBoy Game. And, the Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards awarded Tony Best Male Athlete and Best Video Game.

In 2002, Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam Tour took premier skaters, BMX bikers, motocross athletes and a rock band on a 24-city U.S. arena tour.

Tony has appeared in commercials and campaigns for such main-stream corporations as Got Milk?, GAP, Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, AT&T and Gatorade. When not skating for millions of screaming fans, Tony resides in California with his wife Erin and three sons, Riley, Spencer and Keegan.